Huntsville gazette., 1887-06-18
NUMBER 80.
CHARACTER IN WRITING.

study the meaning of words and
phrases in written communications.
1t must also know the character and
| makeup of the writer. The idea is
not altogether new. 1t is rather an
old accomplishment made prominent
by our latter day tendency to "go"
| and "push. =
Shakespeare said: '.Give me the
writing of woman and l will tell
you her character. Suentonius, dur
ing the Roman Empire, declared that
the Emperor Augustus published his
personality every time he signed his
name. Goethe was careful student
of handwriting. The younger Dumas
declares that graphology is an emf
nently useful science, because it is not
necessary to have the personal ac-
quaintance of an Individual in order to
know him or her.
Now comes another Frenchman, M.
Michon, who declares that it was he
himself who first, acting on hints de-
rived from the Able Flandrin, sue
ceeded in forming a definite system,
extending apparently to the minutest
detail, for which. of course, it is neces-
sary to refer to hi s own treatises. Like
his predecessors, however, M ichon at
taches much Importance to the gener-
al appearance of a handwriting. When
the lines have an upward direction
across the page, it is considered to be
an indication of hopefulness, while the
converse is suggested by lines tending
downward.
"The case has been instanced to me
Of letter by gentleman whom ]
know well, shortly after the death OF
his Learest relative, when the lines
ran almost down the page. Ever since
became acquainted with him the di-
rection of his writing has been quite
normal; but then, before | knew him,
happiness had come to his hfe.'
Michon gives a very affecting illus
tration of these points by fac-simile
of the last letter of Marie Antoinette
addressed to her sister-in-law, Nine
Elisabeth, where one thinks it can
hardly be mere fancy which detects in
the upward and downward direction
of the lines traces of the emotion of
great soul torn by a conflict of feeling.
In the opening words: Il have been
condemned" the sentence drops visi.
bly, But as the injured Queen and
woman rises above her indignites in
the words: mot to death Of shame,
us that is only reserved for criminals.
but to 60 and rejoin your brother"
the words rise with the rising thought.
And so on throughout one of the most
tender, touching, dignifed letters
which was ever penned by human
hand.
Again, the indication of diplo-
matte, not necessarily an insincere ma
ture, is considered to be afforded by
waviness IN the lines. a sort of undu-
latory motion. while the direction
itself lies straight across the page.
Words and lines well separated mani
fest clear ideas and an upright style
shows that in the main the character is
one where the head rules, while if it
slopes very much to the right and is
much rounded it is rather the heart
which governs. A writing which, be-
ginning it's words an ordinary size,
dwindles each down smaller and
smaller toward it's end-an "ecriture
gladiolee," as it is well called-is the
sign of dissimulation; and, on the
other hand, those whose tendency is
strongly marked in the opposite direc-
ton show frank, open, ingenious dis
position. The same trait is sometimes
indicated by small a, or o, or g be-
ing unclosed at the top. A writing
whose letters maintain fair relative
size throughout is indicative of a
raightforward, well ll-balanced charac-
ter Perhaps in no specimen through
out NJ Michon's book is this more
striking than in that Of Fenelon, which
is given as an instance of mobility OF
soul "
Where those portions Of the letters
which pass beyond the line'' are par
ticularly long upward, aesthetic
tastes are indicated; where the
tCHtiCuCJ - dONnWdib bHC tlS-
position is rather ''of the earth,
earthly" A writing whose letters are
disconnected is said to be indi icative Of
an intellect guided by tuition rather
than by logic. The handwritings Of
Chateanbriand and Victor Hugo are
remarkably striking specimens in
point; while mental constitution dis
tinguished for its logical power has
indications Of a precisely opposite nat
ure. Others again show due ad-
mixture and balance Of intuition and
deduction. The habit in free and
rapid writing of linking one word with
another by the crossing of the small
is, or by the tails of the small DIS, is
proof of good administrative power.
1t is enough to take in hand bundle
Of ones own correspondence, and 90
through the letters. comparing them
with ones knowledge of the writers.
to see how faithfully this symptom